Grab Your Pitchforks, Minions! (a #ROW80 Wednesday Update)

doubt (Photo credit: presta)

This post doubles as my long-overdue ROW80 update (for my fans, that’s A Round of Words in 80 Days, a support system for times like…well, times like I’ve described below…)

Minions. Ah, dear minions. Everyone experiences a period of self-doubt now and then. Mine has been over the last several weeks. After reading someone else’s phenomenal work, I stopped writing and stepped back to analyze my work with outrageously critical eyes: This book isn’t like the other ____ books (different is good); this book doesn’t have all the cool crap all the other ____ books have (I have my own cool crap); this book doesn’t have nonstop action like all the other ____ books do (everyone needs a respite from intense physical action, even when just reading it).

Shut Up & Kiss Me (INDIE-kissing Blogfest)

My thanks to The Indelibles for hosting this blogfest. Anyone who knows me knows I love a good blogfest.

And everyone likes a good kissing scene. The moment when the main character finally gets lip-to-lip with his or her objet de désir is the culmination of untold hours of longing, fantasy, and anticipated passion.

#ROW80 Sunday Update – I Love It When a Plan Comes Together

Not feeling spectacular, so I’ll keep this short.

I’ve managed to write just about 2,000 words this week, against all odds (and the onset of the ‘flu). Yay, me! I may just finish writing this book before my grandkid begins driving (okay, so I exaggerate; she’s only two-and-a-half).

Hope everyone’s doing well!

Click here for the Linky Tool Thingee

Blindsided – with Envy and Awe

My friend and fellow writer, Juliette Terzieff (tireless Commander in the Zombie Survival Crew), had the incredible opportunity to work with IronE Singleton on his autobiography. I’m totally envious of her opportunity and not a little in awe of his courage in tackling this project – anyone who takes on the task of writing his or her autobiography has taken on a monumental task. From remembering details to keeping it real to setting aside the fear of revealing one’s most inner self, an autobiography is the literary magnum opus of a life.  

Most of us have had singular moments that shape us, define us, change the course of our lives. In Blindsided by The Walking Dead, IronE Singleton takes us on his journey from a rough Atlanta neighborhood to the set of The Walking Dead – and more importantly, to faith and personal worth.

I don’t often plug a book before its release – and rarely a nonfiction book – but I admire the man and I adore the show. Blindsided by The Walking Dead is available for preorder on IronE’s website. And look at that cover – I love the intensity! I can’t wait to read it. Go preorder now (available in paperback or hardcover, unsigned or signed).

A Certain Slant of Light

Sunlight, Trees (Photo credit: Creativity+ Timothy K Hamilton)

I see you in a certain slant of light, a glimpse of tousled hair and a sleepy grin in the graceful radiance of a fresh spring morning; or a flash of skin, kissed golden, sun-drenched and warmed by the lazy beams of a sultry summer afternoon; or in pensive silhouette against a blazing autumn sky, painted red and gold and orange as evening claims the waning day; or washed in the cold blue light of a dying winter’s day, your eyes reflective pools of twilight chill and snow and ice. you live in every slant of light, in every hour of every day. you’re everywhere except here

beside me.

 

(This was written for my upcoming novel Sundown, the third book in The Devil’s Mansion series)

Related articles

• Seeing afresh in slanted light (chrysalisjourney.wordpress.com)

#ROW80 – Ain’t Misbehavin’…Ain’t Getting Much Done, Either

I set many goals for my life, knowing that in a perfect reality, I would be able to accomplish them without a hitch, glitch or delay. 

My life is not a perfect reality, however, and my most frequent hitch, glitch, or delay is a pretty cute little blonde-haired buttercup whose every whim I serve without hesitation. I am, in short, a complete pushover as a Nana and sacrifice a lot of writing time in favor of Buttercup-Nana time. 

Therefore, this week’s post is to revise my goals in light of a smack in the face by reality: you, dear Sharon, are not – repeat, NOT – in control of as much of your time as you think you are.

Since the buttercup rules my heart, even more so than does writing, here are my newly revised goals in light of her requirements:

• 3,000 to 5,000 words per week
• Maybe I’ll finish by the end of the round; maybe I won’t
• Keep the buttercup happy, because she deserves it

How are y’all doing in your goals?

(Click here for the Linky Tool Thingy)

#ROW80 Goals – Wherein I Admit I’m Lacking in Motivation

I admit it’s been a few rounds (quite a few…) since I threw myself into ROW80. But I need some outside accountability to keep me going – I’m halfway through writing the latest book and I can’t seem to keep myself on track. Distractions galore and little will-power to resist them. Also, I miss the connections to other writers out there. Writing is a lonely business sometimes.

So here are my goals for this round:

• 5,000 – 7,000 words a week on latest WIP (In the Blink of an Eye)
• Finish writing the book by mid-February and start the first round of edits and beta-reading. (Which…ummm…does anyone have some leads on beta-readers? I could use a couple more.)

Best wishes on your writing, fellow ROW80ers!

Click here to go back to the Linky Tool for ROW80

So You Think You Want a Resolution

I’ve been thinking rather heavily upon the idea of New Year’s resolutions. And I’ve decided that this year, I’m not going to make any. The words “New Year’s resolution” have a temporary ring to my ears, perhaps because of so many jokes about people’s resolve lasting until January 2, or maybe because of so many of my failed resolutions in the past. New Year’s resolutions seem to be something one is expected to kick to the curb with no backward glance, and I find I am just not satisfied with that prospect.

Polly Perfect … Perfectly Boring?

Let’s talk characters today. More to the point, let’s talk about characters with serious personality flaws. The following text is an excerpt from a review of Condemned on BarnesandNoble.com:

“I also have a problem with the heroine making stupid choices especially when it drives apart her marriage. It reminds me of those insipid romance stories with all the simpering angst when you know they are going to end up together. I still think Kim made the wrong choice because she did not consider her husband nor her children. I understand about miracles however I don’t think we should take such HUGE risks and rely on miracles to see us through–rather self-centered.”  

Ducking Autocorrect!

At least I didn’t serve HIV with her Chu Jen nuggets… (image from Damn You Auto Correct)

I’ve shared many things with you, dear readers, some of them painful for me, most of them painful for you. But you’re still hanging around, you masochists, so I’m about to inflict even more abuse upon your tender heads.

Allow me to share the latest skirmish in my ongoing, exasperating, fiercely waged war with autocorrect (like you have any choice other than to stop reading now). I’ve never before shared my legendary difficulties with autocorrect with the masses, mostly because I’m not just losing each battle but I am losing the war. Being a writer, that’s kinda embarrassing.